Trocar-cannula

ABSTRACT

A trocar-cannula for piercing a venoclysis diaphragm. A piercing point is provided on the end of a trocar, providing three large openings for passage of fluid into the interior of the cannula tube, as defined by three ribs shaped to provide maximum size of openings, to minimize cutting or tearing action on the diaphragm, to maximize stretching action thereon, and to prevent possible collapse of part of the container from closing off the opening area. Also, a combination trocar-cannula-drip barrel unit is shown.

[11] 3,831,814 [451 Aug. 27, 1974 TROCAR-CANNULA William F. Butler,Oakland, Calif.

[73] Assignee: Cutter Laboratories, Inc., Berkeley,

Calif.

[22] Filed: July 25, 1969 [21] Appl. No.: 844,946

[75] Inventor:

[52] US. Cl. 222/81 [51] Int. Cl. G071 11/00 [58] Field of Search .L222/81-90, 222/159; 128/214 C, 347-351, 221

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 547,370 10/1895 Chalefou222/81 1,465,793 8/1923 Schilling 222/90 1,485,298 2/1924 Schroger128/347 1,514,225 11/1924 Phillips ZZZ/83.5

1,710,239 4/1929 Paulson 222/835 1,889,557 11/1932 Lange 222/902,040,615 5/1936 Lyon 222/85 2,711,740 6/1955 Pickens.... 128/349 R2,733,836 2/1956 Switzer 222/82 2,806,635 Kader et a1. 222/88 2,827,0813/1958 Little 222/85 X 2,954,768 10/1960 Hamilton 128/221 3,030,9544/1962 Thornton, Jr. 128/214 C 3,064,651 11/1962 Henderson 128/2213,343,724 9/ 1 967 Malpas 3,364,930 1/1968 Ryan 3,448,740 6/1969 Figge128/221 Primary ExaminerAl1en N. Knowles Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Owen,Wickersham & Erickson [5 7] ABSTRACT 9 Claims, 11 Drawing FiguresPATENliumsamu SEEN IN 4 INVENTOR. WILLIAM F BUTLER 0 u/M a/M ATTORNEYSPATENTEU W SHEUZUF4 INVENTOR. WILLIAM F BUTLER 0mm,(1/M M ATTORNEYSPAIENTED 3.831.814

sum sur 4 FIG5 FIG.6 FIG.7

FIGS F169 H610 INVENTOR. WILLIAM F. BUTLER ATTORNEYS PAIENTEH 3.831 ,814SW t 4 INVENTOR. WILLIAM F BUTLER ATTORNEYS TROCAR-CANNULA Thisinvention relates to a novel trocar-cannula for piercing a venoclysisdiaphragm.

Now that venoclysis diaphragms are made from plastic, it has becomeimportant to prevent the point which cuts through them from tearing orcutting the diaphragm to a point where there is leakage around thecannula. It has also become important to prevent closure of the area ofthe openings into the cannula, by collapse of the wall of the container.Furthermore, it is important to obtain maximum delivery for any givendiameter of cannula.

All these objectives are simply stated, but are not so easily achieved.However, these problems are solved by the apparatus of this invention,which employs a trocar with a generally rounded extremity serving as thepoint for piercing and with three openings defined by three ribs andrecessed end portions of the tube, with the rib walls rounded and shapedto provide narrow areas of contact while at the same time avoiding anycutting edges. These features that solve the problem are all absent fromthe prior art devices, where reliance was made on sharp edges withcutting functions and where insufficient attention was given to thedangers that might be produced by collapse of the wall of the containeror by insufficient feed of fluid.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from thefollowing description of a preferred form thereof.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an enlarged head-on view of a trocarcannula embodying theprinciples of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a view in section taken along the line 22 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view in elevation of the end portion of thetrocar-cannula as viewed along the arrows 3-3 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view in elevation and partly in section on asomewhat reduced scale showing how the trocar-cannula of FIGS. 1-3 isused to pierce a venoclysis diaphragm, broken lines showing the positionafter piercing.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 1 of a modified form of trocar-cannulaalso embodying the principles of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 3 of the trocarcannula of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a view in section taken along the line 7-7 in FIG. 6. 2

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIGS. 1 and 5 of another modified form oftrocar-cannula, also embodying the principles of the invention.

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIGS. 3 and 6 of the trocarcannula of FIG.8.

FIG. 10 is a view in section taken along the line l010 in FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a view in elevation and in section of a combinationtrocar-cannula-drip barrel unit, also embodying the principles of theinvention.

FIGS. 1-3 show a trocar-cannula 10 that embodies the principles of theinvention, having a trocar 11 at one end and a cylindrical cannula tube12 at the other end. Spaced from the end 13 of the cannula 12 is adisclike flange 14, against which a flexible tube or conduit shown inbroken lines in FIG. 4 may be pushed, encircling the cannula 12 andconveying liquid therefrom. On the other side of the disc flange 14, theexterior diameter of the cannula tube 12 is narrowed at an exteri' orlysloping portion 16, while the interior diameter remains the same,thereby providing a thinner and narrower wall portion 17 where lessstrength is needed. This thinner wall portion 17 is integrally joined tothe trocar or three-segmented portion 11.

Atthe end of the trocar 11 is a rounded point-likeextremity 20 whichserves to pierce the venoclysis diaphragm 21 (FIG. 4), but, due to itsrounded shape, does this with a minimum of cutting or tearing action,though there is, of course, some cutting. Three narrow radial ribs 22,23, 24 join this extremity 20 smoothly to the tube portion 17. The ribs22, 23, 24 are made as narrow as is feasible, but their outer surfacesand edges are rounded so as to prevent any cutting action, as wouldoccur from a sharp edge; as a result movement of the trocar 11 into thediaphragm 21, after piercing by the extremity 20, results mostly inspreading and stretching the diaphragm wall rather than tearing orcutting it, so that when the trocar 11 is fully inserted (FIG. 4) thediaphragm wall ends up encircling the tubular portion 17, going, ofcourse, no further than the flange.

The sidewalls 25, 26 of the ribs 22, 23, 24 are generally radial and areperhaps better described as parallel to the radial plane which bisectstheir ribs 22, 23, 24 so that each rib 22, 23, 24 is generallyrectangular in cross-section, except for the interior wall 27 which maybe slightly concave. Again, the edges are rounded and not sharp. v

Moreover, the end of the tubular portion 17 is itself cut back by threerecesses 28, 29, 30 with converging walls 31, 32, and again the sidewalls 31, 32 of these recesses 28, 29, 30 lie generally radially, sothat they are perpendicular to all planes perpendicular to the radialplane through the ribs 22, 23, 24. The walls 31, 32, in each recessconverge but do not meet at a sharp point, but rather meet at a shortcylindrical are 33, on the interior surface, whice is joined to theexterior surface by a smooth bevel or sloping face 34.

As a result, three large openings (shown in FIGS. 14 as generallylozenge-shaped) are provided with approximately the maximum size ofopening that can be obtained while still getting the strength necessaryfor entry of the trocar 11 into the diaphragm.

Due to the three-fold nature of the structure, collapse of the walls 35of the venoclysis bag 36 (FIG. 4) against the device 10 is not able toblock off the full area of the openings as they might, for example, ifthere were only two such openings diametrically opposite each other. Atthe most, one of these openings could be blocked off, and the blockingoff of one would insure that the other two would be rather wide-open.

In using the trocar-cannula 10., the extremity 20 is forced through thediaphragm 21. Instead of the extremity 20 beginning a cutting actionthat is carried out by sharp ribs, along with tearing, the cuttingaction stops just beyond the rounded extremity 20 itself, and theremaining action of the rounded ribs 22, 23, 24 is astretching action,which minimizes tear, and therefore minimizes leakage around thecannula.

FIGS. 5, 6, and 7 show a modified form of the invention differingprincipally in the shape of the openings through the trocar. Most of theparts of the device are the same, but here a trocar 40 is provided withribs 41, 42, and 43 and with openings 44, 45, and 46 whichare generallyin the form of a three-sided pyramid. Thus,

there are ribs 51, 52, and 53 with elliptical openings 54,

55, and 56.

FIG. 11 shows how the principles of the invention can be used to make acombination trocar-cannula-drip barrel 60. The trocar itself issubstantially identical to that shown inFIGS. 1-4 but instead of merelyterminating in the end 13 of the tube 12, it terminates in a drip barrel61. The drip barrel 61 empties into a filter unit 62. The unit 60 itselfmay be made of transparent plastie with a flexible housing 63. Thiscomplete combination unit 60 enables the user to dispense with theseparate units and the connections heretofore that had to be usedbetween them.

To those skilled in the art to which this invention relates, manychanges in construction and widely differing embodiments andapplications of the invention will suggest themselves without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the invention. The disclosures and thedescription herein are purely illustrative and are not intended to be inany sense limiting.

I claim: 1. A trocar-cannula for piercing a venoclysis diaphragm of afluid-containing container, comprising,

a cylindrical tube portion with an integral trocar on one end, saidtrocar comprising a rounded point-like extremity for piercing avenoclysis diaphragm with a minimum of cutting action, three ribsjoining said extremity smoothly to said tube, said ribs having smoothouter surfaces free from sharp edges, said trocar having three openings,one opening between each two adjacent ribs, I

whereby after piercing a said diaphragm, said trocar stretches it andsaid fluid passes into said tube through the three openings, thethreefold nature acting to prevent collapse of said container on morethan one said opening and acting to provide the maximum size opening atall times consonant with the needed strength.

2. The trocar-cannula of claim 1 wherein said trocar tip is generallypyramidal.

3. The trocar-cannula of claim 2 wherein said openings are generallytriangular.

4. The trocar-cannula of claim 2 wherein said openings are generallyelliptical.

5. The trocar-cannula of claim 1 wherein said trocar ribs are generallyradial with nearly radial sidewalls meeting their outer surfaces atrounded edges.

6. The trocar-cannula of claim 5 wherein said openings aregenerally,lozenge-shaped.

7. The trocar-cannula of claim 5 wherein said openings are generallytriangular.

8. A trocar-cannula for piercing a venoclysis diaphragm of afluid-containing container, comprising,

a cylindrical tube portion with an integral trocar on one end,saidtrocar comprising a rounded point-like extremity for piercing avenoclysis diaphragm with a minimum of cutting action, three narrowgenerally radial ribs joining said extremity smoothly to said tube, saidribs having nearly radial sidewalls and smooth outer surfacesinscribable in a three sided pyramid and with rounded edges, said tubebeing recessed from where said ribs meet it to describe three generallytriangular cylindrical shell segments with sidewalls generallyperpendicular to the outer surface of said tube, the sidewalls of eachsaid recesses being joined by a face sloping from the inner to the outersurface of the tube, thereby providing three generally lozenge-shapedlarge openings,

whereby after piercing a said diaphragm, said trocar stretches it andfluid from said container passes into said tube through the threelozenge-shaped openings, the threefold nature acting toprevent collapseof said container on more than one said opening and acting to providethemaximum size openings at all times consonant with the needed strength,the walls of the opening being so shaped as to minimize cutting ortearing action.

9. A trocar-cannula for piercing a venoclysis diaphragm to enablepassage of fluid therethrough, comprising,

a cylindrical tube having spaced from one end a disclike flange, saidtube on the opposite side from said end narrowing to a smaller exteriordiameter while maintaining the same inner diameter, and,

a trocar integral with said tube on the end of the smaller diameterportion, said trocar comprising a rounded point-like extremity forpiercing a venoclysis diaphragm with a minimum of cutting action, threenarrow radial ribs joining said extremity smoothly to said tube, each ofsaid ribs having nearly radial sidewalls generally parallel to theradial plane through the center of the rib, and outer surfacesinscribable in a cone, meeting said sidewalls at rounded edges, saidtube being recessed on each side from where said ribs meet it todescribe three. triangular cylindrical-shell segments, each with twosidewalls each perpendicular to planes perpendicular to the radial planethrough the rib which it joins, the two sidewalls being joined by a facewith a sloping surface, sloping away from said extremity from the innerto the outer surface of the tube,

thereby providing between said ribs and said shell segments three largegenerally lozenge-shaped openings, whereby after its extremity pierces asaid diaphragm, said trocar ribs stretch it and said fluid passes intosaid tube through the three lozenge-shaped openings.

1. A trocar-cannula for piercing a venoclysis diaphragm of afluid-containing container, comprising, a cylindrical tube portion withan integral trocar on one end, said trocar comprising a roundedpoint-like extremity for piercing a venoclysis diaphragm with a minimumof cutting action, three ribs joining said extremity smoothly to saidtube, said ribs having smooth outer surfaces free from sharp edges, saidtrocar having three openings, one opening between each two adjacentribs, whereby after piercing a said diaphragm, said trocar stretches itand said fluid passes into said tube through the three openings, thethreefold nature acting to prevent collapse of said container on morethan one said opening and acting to provide the maximum size opening atall times consonant with the needed strength.
 2. The trocar-cannula ofclaim 1 wherein said trocar tip is generally pyramidal.
 3. Thetrocar-cannula of claim 2 wherein said openings are generallytriangular.
 4. The trocar-cannula of claim 2 wherein said openings aregenerally elliptical.
 5. The trocar-cannula of claim 1 wherein saidtrocar ribs are generally radial with nearly radial sidewalls meetingtheir outer surfaces at rounded edges.
 6. The trocar-cannula of claim 5wherein said openings are generally lozenge-shaped.
 7. Thetrocar-cannula of claim 5 wherein said openings are generallytriangular.
 8. A trocar-cannula for piercing a venoclysis diaphragm of afluid-containing container, comprising, a cylindrical tube portion withan integral trocar on one end, said trocar comprising a roundedpoint-like extremity for piercing a venoclysis diaphragm with a minimumof cutting action, three narrow generally radial ribs joining saidextremity smoothly to said tube, said ribs having nearly radialsidewalls and smooth outer surfaces inscribable in a three sided pyramidand with rounded edges, said tube being recessed from where said ribsmeet it to describe three generally triangular cylindrical shellsegments with sidewalls generally perpendicular to the outer surface ofsaid tube, the sidewalls of each said recesses being joined by a facesloping from the inner to the outer surface of the tube, therebyproviding three generally lozenge-shaped large openings, wheReby afterpiercing a said diaphragm, said trocar stretches it and fluid from saidcontainer passes into said tube through the three lozenge-shapedopenings, the threefold nature acting to prevent collapse of saidcontainer on more than one said opening and acting to provide themaximum size openings at all times consonant with the needed strength,the walls of the opening being so shaped as to minimize cutting ortearing action.
 9. A trocar-cannula for piercing a venoclysis diaphragmto enable passage of fluid therethrough, comprising, a cylindrical tubehaving spaced from one end a disc-like flange, said tube on the oppositeside from said end narrowing to a smaller exterior diameter whilemaintaining the same inner diameter, and, a trocar integral with saidtube on the end of the smaller diameter portion, said trocar comprisinga rounded point-like extremity for piercing a venoclysis diaphragm witha minimum of cutting action, three narrow radial ribs joining saidextremity smoothly to said tube, each of said ribs having nearly radialsidewalls generally parallel to the radial plane through the center ofthe rib, and outer surfaces inscribable in a cone, meeting saidsidewalls at rounded edges, said tube being recessed on each side fromwhere said ribs meet it to describe three triangular cylindrical-shellsegments, each with two sidewalls each perpendicular to planesperpendicular to the radial plane through the rib which it joins, thetwo sidewalls being joined by a face with a sloping surface, slopingaway from said extremity from the inner to the outer surface of thetube, thereby providing between said ribs and said shell segments threelarge generally lozenge-shaped openings, whereby after its extremitypierces a said diaphragm, said trocar ribs stretch it and said fluidpasses into said tube through the three lozenge-shaped openings.